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opening-the-greenbelt-was-a-mistake-i-regret-for-breaking-the-promise-doug-ford
CanadaSep 21, 2023

Opening the Greenbelt was a mistake, I regret for breaking the promise : Doug Ford

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is reversing his government's controversial plan to open up the greenbelt and called it a mistake.Ford announced at a press conference Thursday that he promised the people of Ontario not to touch the greenbelt and that promise has been broken.Ford said it was a mistake to open the process and that they deeply regretted it.A few weeks ago, Steve Clark, who has been Ontario's housing minister since 2018, resigned from his position after a report by the Integrity Commissioner found that he had violated ethical rules, after which Paul Calandra was appointed as Ontario's n
trudeau-avoided-questions-about-suspension-of-visa-services-by-canada
CanadaSep 21, 2023

Trudeau avoided questions about suspension of visa services by Canada

India's visa processing center in Canada has suspended its services.Speaking in New York on Thursday, Trudeau deflected questions about visa processing and reiterated his call for the Indian government to do more to get to the bottom of the matter."We ask the Indian government to work with us, take these allegations seriously and let the law take its course," Trudeau said.In fact, after the statement made by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau this week that the Indian government was behind the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the relationship between the two countries has turned bitter.Prime Ministe
lasting-solution-to-haitis-crisis-will-have-to-come-from-within-the-country-pm-trudeau
CanadaSep 21, 2023

Lasting solution to Haiti's crisis will have to come from within the country : PM Trudeau

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says a lasting solution to the crisis in Haiti will have to come from within the crisis-racked country.Trudeau made the comments on his final day at the UN as he sat down with Ariel Henry, Haiti's embattled acting prime minister. Trudeau announced an additional $80 million in humanitarian aid and security help for the overmatched Haitian national police.Canada is also imposing fresh sanctions against three more members of Haiti's corruption-riven business community, bringing the total to 29 to date. Trudeau and Bob Rae, Canada's ambassador to the UN, also presided
freeland-introduces-bill-to-remove-gst-off-rental-developments
CanadaSep 21, 2023

Freeland introduces bill to remove GST off rental developments

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland introduced legislation this morning that would remove GST charges from new rental developments and update the country's competition law.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised the new legislation earlier this month to address the housing crisis and affordability crunch.Experts have called on the federal government to remove GST charges off new purpose-built rentals to help spur construction of these kinds of homes.The bill is also supposed to strengthen the Competition Bureau by giving it the power to compel information from companies to conduct studies, tight
ottawa-gives-food-banks-canada-17-9m-for-pilot-to-provide-menstrual-products
CanadaSep 21, 2023

Ottawa gives Food Banks Canada $17.9M for pilot to provide menstrual products

The federal government has tasked Food Banks Canada with handing out free menstrual products to members of marginalized low-income communities.Gender Equality Minister Marci Ien announced the pilot program Thursday.She says the government is injecting $17.9 million into the initiative.Through the project, Food Banks Canada will distribute free period products to community organizations across Canada.It is also going to partner with existing organizations that deal in period education to scale up their operations.The Menstrual Equity project is part of a broader push from the government to redu
india-has-suspended-indian-visa-services-for-canadians
CanadaSep 21, 2023

India suspends visa services in Canada

Due to the tension between India and Canada over the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the Indian government has taken a big decision.External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that Canadians will not get visas for now.He cited security as the reason behind this.Indian visa processing services have been suspended from September 21 until further notice, the BLS Indian Visa Application Center said in a statement.80,000 Canadian tourists visited India in 2021, making them the fourth largest group according to the Immigration Bureau of India.Meanwhile, Indian Foreign Ministry spokesp
nijjar-death-case-vancouver-police-boost-security-at-indian-consulate-since-trudeau-remarks
BCSep 20, 2023

Nijjar death case: Vancouver police boost security at Indian Consulate since Trudeau remarks

The Vancouver Police Department says it's beefing up security outside India's Consulate after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said this week there was credible intelligence about a potential link between India's government and the killing of a Sikh community leader in B.C.Const. Tania Visintin, the department's media relations officer, says police are "closely monitoring the situation" since Trudeau's announcement about the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a vocal supporter of an independent Sikh homeland, who was shot dead in Surrey in June.She says Vancouver police aren't aware of any specific
illegal-tobacco-growth-costing-three-provinces-2-47-billion-in-taxes-retail-report
BCSep 20, 2023

Illegal tobacco growth costing three provinces $2.47 billion in taxes: Retail report

The governments of British Columbia, Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador lost up to $2.47 billion in tax revenues over four years due to the growth in illegal tobacco sales, says a convenience industry report.The Convenience Industry Council of Canada report released Wednesday examined the downward trend in legal tobacco sales in the three provinces since 2019, compared with the rising growth in the underground contraband tobacco market."These cigarettes are illegally sold, tax and duty free, without any Health Canada regulations or inspections and retail for a fraction of legal tobacco pric
1-in-4-adolescents-have-been-cyberbullied-statcan
CanadaSep 20, 2023

1 in 4 adolescents have been cyberbullied : StatCan

A new StatCan report says one in four adolescents in Canada have been cyberbullied and it's taking a toll on their mental health.The study says youth who have been victimized online have a greater risk of depression, anxiety, eating disorder symptoms and thoughts of suicide or suicide attempts.The report says transgender and non-binary youth, as well as females attracted to other females, are at higher risk of being victimized online.Adolescents living with chronic health conditions such as asthma, epilepsy or learning disabilities are also at higher risk for cyberbullying, especially if they

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charges-approved-after-alleged-sexual-assault-in-downtown-vancouver
BCMar 27, 2026

Charges approved after alleged sexual assault in downtown Vancouver

A 47-year-old man has been charged following an alleged sexual assault in downtown Vancouver, according to a Vancouver Police Department release. Police said officers were called at approximately 7:20 p.m. on March 25 to Granville Street between Dunsmuir and Pender streets after a woman reported she had been groped by a stranger. Witnesses also told police the same suspect had allegedly assaulted other people in the area prior to officers arriving. The suspect was located at the scene and arrested without incident, police said. Derek Jason Sangris, 47, has been charged with one count of sexual
bolsonaro-moved-to-house-arrest-after-hospital-discharge-in-brazil
WorldMar 27, 2026

Bolsonaro moved to house arrest after hospital discharge in Brazil

Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro has been released from hospital in Brasília and will continue serving a 27-year sentence under house arrest, following a ruling by the country’s top court. According to a decision by the Supreme Federal Court earlier this week, Bolsonaro was granted permission to serve his sentence at home due to declining health. The court said the arrangement is subject to review within 90 days. Bolsonaro was discharged Friday morning from DF Star hospital in the capital. He then travelled to his residence in the Jardim Botânico neighbourhood, where he lives wit
punjab-and-haryana-high-court-orders-fresh-cross-examination-in-majithia-defamation-case
IndiaMar 27, 2026

Punjab and Haryana High Court orders fresh cross-examination in Majithia defamation case

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered a fresh cross-examination in a defamation case filed by Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia against Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh, reviving proceedings in a matter dating back to 2016. According to court proceedings, the High Court allowed a petition filed by Sanjay Singh and directed that the case be revisited for cross-examination. The defamation complaint was originally filed by Majithia in a Ludhiana court in January 2016. The case relates to allegations made during a political rally in Moga, where Singh is accused of referring t
abbotsford-police-issue-public-safety-notice-ahead-of-offenders-release
BCMar 27, 2026

Abbotsford police issue public safety notice ahead of offender’s release

The Abbotsford Police Department says a 46-year-old man with a history of violent sexual offences is scheduled to be released into the community later this month under strict conditions. According to an Abbotsford Police Department news release, Stephen Bradley Ewing is set to be released from William Head Institution on March 30 and is expected to reside in the Abbotsford area. Police say Ewing has prior convictions from 2021 and 2023, including sexual assault, sexual assault causing bodily harm, and overcoming resistance by choking. The release also states that at least one offence involved
AlbertaMar 27, 2026

Alberta man sentenced to 17 years in U.S. prison in Florida child exploitation sting

A Red Deer, Alta., man has been sentenced to 17 years in a United States federal prison after pleading guilty in a child exploitation sting tied to a planned trip to Walt Disney World in Florida. According to U.S. court documents, James Hjelmeland, 31, pleaded guilty in November to attempted enticement of a minor and possession of child sexual abuse material. The case stems from an undercover operation involving a Florida law enforcement officer. Court records state Hjelmeland began communicating online with a detective who was posing as the parent of a 12-year-old girl. The officer, acting in